Use Zeiss Ikon Contax Lenses on Sony Nex Cameras

[shawninus]

Hi, all,
I have one Zeiss Sonnar 50mm F1.5 T lens from Contax IIIa and I want to use it on Sony Nex cameras. Would it be possible? Are there any adapters available?
Note: this is not the Contax G lens.

I choose to use Sony Nex because it has larger sensor (compared to M4/3).
Anyone has any experience? Please share. Appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[agfa100]

Well right here on the for sale section you will find this....
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=32471

He also makes a Contax to LM mount adp. which I have and use my Russian Kiev lenses on my Ricoh GXR and with a Leica mount adp on my Sony Nex. They are nicely made and work fine....

wbill

 

[shawninus]

Thanks, agfa100!
It's good to know that such adapter exists.

Another question is - all other lenses (except for the 50mm ones) should have helical in the lenses to focus, right? Only the 50mm lenses rely on the body helical.

I just checked the 28mm Nikon S lens and found it does have helical. In that case, I am thinking to buy these adapters instead:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-S-Ran...ens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item19d49262e1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Contax-RF-l...ens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item19d23d74d3

Is it a good idea?

 

[Bill Jones]

Thanks, agfa100!
It's good to know that such adapter exists.

Another question is - all other lenses (except for the 50mm ones) should have helical in the lenses to focus, right? Only the 50mm lenses rely on the body helical.

I just checked the 28mm Nikon S lens and found it does have helical. In that case, I am thinking to buy these adapters instead:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-S-Ran...ens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item19d49262e1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Contax-RF-l...ens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item19d23d74d3

Is it a good idea?

Probably not a good idea. They are more cheaply built (aluminum vs chromed brass and poorer build quality) and sometimes prove unsatisfactory in use. Also they cannot mount the Sonnar 50/1.5 that you asked about. The Armedeo has a good reputation and is chromed brass with a focusing helix. All Contax, Kiev and Nikon lenses except the normal 50's do have focusing helixes.

I have used the following lenses on an NEX 5 or NEX 7: Sonnar 50/1.5, Sonnar 50/2.0, Tessar 50/2.8, Tessar 28/8, Orthometar 35/4.5, Contaprox I (Tessar 50/3.5 with a macro focusing helix built-in), Sonnar 85/2.0 and Sonnar 135/4.0. All work well however one must remember these lenses are either not coated or single coated so there is more flare and ghosting and less contrast than a modern multi-coated lens would give. Also they are much less contrasty and benifit from increaseing contrast in post-processing.

I use a Japanese adapter that is currently out of production.

Bill Jones

 

[shawninus]

Thank you, Bill!
Appreciate your input!
I actually ordered an adapter from rainbow imaging. Not for the 50 F1.5, but for a Nikkor S 28 F3.5. Just to try it out. Hope it works fine. Like you said, the older lenses may not be the best choice on the nex cameras.
Right now, I think getting an M adapter and getting 1 or 2 Voigtlander modern lenses might be a better idea.

 

[agfa100]

Let us know how that adp works, I have used rainbow for my ltm-nex and that one works fine. I have heard that some of the far east contax rf adp. do not seem to work as well. But they are cheaper, so it's worth a look see.

I have just ordered a Alpa to LM as I have a couple of Alpa lenses, not a cheap adp. but then the sales volume will not be much either.
wbill